IN THE SMALL HOURS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10851, 17 March 1921, Page 5

IN THE SMALL HOURS

BIC BLAZE AT AUCKLAND iBRISOOE AND CO.’S WAREHOUSE TOTALLY DESTROYED. FIREMEN’S GALLANT FIGHT. AUCKLAND, March 16. Tho four-storied brick warehouse occupied by Messrs Briscoe and 00., Lul., ou the corner of Customs and Gore, streets, was completely gutted by liro early this morning. The stock, valued at about £60,000, was insured for -03i1,000. and the insurance on tho building was £9OOO, but the present-day value of the structure would be about £26,000. It was erected about 20 years ago. When the brigade arrived the building was already wrapped in flame, and through rows and rows of windows which had been broken by the fierce heat of the devastating flames poured dense black clouds of smoke. The firemen, nevertheless, attempted to penetrate into tho building from the front entrance in Customs street, but_ were thwarted and turned their attention to the back, or caTt entrance, in Gore street, and here again more difficulty was met. A big wooden door doubly ironed both front and back and about three inches in thickness proved almost invincible to the .onslaught of the axes wielded by the attackers, and it took half an hour to make a hole sufficient for them to enter the building.

ROARING FLAMES SHOOT UP. The fire was located here, and immediatelv tho big swing doors were opened the roaring flames shot upwards through the floors and the roof fell in. Despite this, however, the brigade worked like Trojans and quicklv water was pouring on the flames, through leads placed through the cart entrance and through the top windows on the Gore street side. It was impossible for several policemen, who had come from their night vigils, and a handful of the publio present, at this stage, to stand about in this thoroughfare, so overpowering were the heavy clouds of black smoke that belched forth from the burning building. The fight with the flames lasted two whole hours, tons and tons of water having to be poured on them through 13 leads and two deluges before they were got under control. Practically all the work of the brigade was done from two ladders, there 1 eing no fire escapes to the building to assist the men in their work. At 9 o’clock this morning when several hundreds of city folk viewed all that remained of the building, water was still being played on the smouldering' debris.

EXPLOSION OF CARTRIDGES. Loud detonations during the progress of the fire were heard on the outskirts of .the city, and were accounted for by Superintendent Wilson as having been caused by stocks of cartridges being swept up by the flames. Theee explosions lasted for fully an hour. Both the buildings adjoining the destroyed structure escaped damage. They are in brick, the one in Gore street occupied by Messrs Jagger and Harvey, chandlers, being separated from the corner building by a cart entrance. The fire is said to have started in a room at the rear of the building used by 'employees for changing their clothing. . ‘ The manager of Messrs Briscoe and Co., Ltd., stated to-day that the company were heavy losers aB a result of the fire. It was impossible, however, to estimate the exact position at present.

A message received from Auckland earlier yesterday was as follows: — The damage done by the fire at Briscoe’s is estimated at £70,000 at least. The insurances on the buildings, stock, and fixtures total £65,900. Insurances on the building and stock are as follow:—In the Sun Office, £13,250: Ocean Office, £5000; Atlas, £6500; North British, £500; South British, £5000; Royal Exchange, £5000; Stat, £4000; Commercial Union, £4500; National, £8500; Australian Alliance, £IOOO- Standard, £3000; Norwich Union, £1000; Neiw Zealand, £500; London and Lancashire, £500; United. £4500. Also in the Yorkshire, £30,869 on the loss of profits.